JamieNP

Let's put it this way . Before the fill I could barely eat one boiled egg. After my last fill I ate 2 boiled eggs and 2 bacons and still did not feel full. I have always had a hard time with nuts and I ate a handfull of almonds with no problem. I don't want to load up on a bunch of junk but I just don't have that discomfort that let's me know I ate enough. Thanks for your replies.

Thanks for the reply. You would think if it was swelling you would be tight. I have always felt restriction after adjustments and this time it just feels like "pre band". Hopefully after a week I will feel some restriction.

What a wonderful Christmas present for yourself! Congrats! It has been over a year for me and I am down 87 lbs. 10 lbs from my goal

I just got the phone call from my surgeon's office. Tricare has now APPROVED ME!!! Surgery is Sept 30th

I am almost 6 months out and down 73 lbs

I do 30 min of bike, 30 treadmill..weights..and then 30 of reclining bike

How do you like the isotonix? I have a friend that sells it and have been eying it.

Been awhile here too. I am not getting the LBT messages. I started at 233 and I am now at 163. Size 8 jeans! I would like to lose another 20 lbs and I will be happy. I have great restriction...can't keep a lot down. I have noticed a great deal of hair loss. I heard that it is common 4 months out. Thank goodness I have a head full of hair. One of my highschool classmates now sells nutrition supplements (Isotonix) that are all liquid. I am gonna try the prenatal vitamins and the B12. Let you know how that works out for me.

They are very specific on their guidelines. They DO NOT go by BMI, like most if not all other insurance companies. They go by the metlife height/weight chart (you can type that in your browser and look it up). If you have no documented comorbidities, then you need to be 200% over your ideal weight according to that chart. If you have not had a sleep study, see if your PCM can get you one. Most over weight people have some degree of sleep apnea (if you snore chances are good you have it). Document everything. Get as many docs as you can to right a letter of recommendation for you. Make sure your surgeon sent everything need in. Find out why exactly you got denied.

You should be good to go Munger. As far as comorbidities, I had high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I am still on my blood pressure meds, but I am off of my CPAP. I am now am 3 months post op and wearing size 8 jeans comfortably. I still would like to lose another 20-30 lbs. I will just play it by ear. My last fill was about a week ago and I have good restriction. I have to remember to EAT SLOWLY!! I have also notice a lot of hair loss. Thank goodness I have a head full of thick hair. Some may be from anesthesia and the rest from protein, although I am trying my best to consume 70 grams a day.

Tricare uses the Metlife ht/wt chart and uses medium frame. You must fall in this range. If you are under it by any amount you will get denied (been there!). You need a psy eval, lab work, gall bladder scan, EGD, EKG and go to a nutrition class. Your PCM has to send the referral to Tricare and you will probably be approved for the Surgeon's visit. Then the surgeon will submit the request for surgery. If you get denied, don't be discouraged...there are several of us that got denied the first time and appealed and got an approval. Hope that helps!

Karina, are you getting excited about your surgery? It is coming up fast! I am down to size 10's and can squeeze into 8s..doing 90 min of cardio 4 times a week and lifting weights. My weight loss has slowed down, but I think it is due to muscle gain. Can't wait for you to have your surgery..it has been a long hard road. I will be there in spirit!!!

I sporadically get notifications. I don't keep up with it as much now since I don't get them. I am going to get my 3rd fill next week. I do have some restriction and some things get stuck, but i want to snack all of the time.

Well, I am at a plateau. I do 90 min of cardio and weights about 3-4 times a week and I am quite strict on what I eat. I have found that if I increase my calorie intake, I actually lose. But I have been playing with these same 5 lbs for about a month. Hopefully now that the holidays are over I can quit snacking. I bought a Wii fit and dance dance revolution, and it is fun and a great workout. I recommend it for a change in the ole gym routine. As far as the couch to 5K, I did a program locally about 4 years ago and it is a great program. There are downloads for your mp3 player that tells you when to walk and when to jog. Good luck everyone!

Aw..girlfriend..had those..and had an ovarian tumor too. i had one ovary removed, laproscopic surgery 8 times and eventually had a total hysterectomy. Best thing I ever done. Those little cysts hurt! Couldn't even walk sometimes. Sometimes hormones help. Good luck!

Tricare does not go by BMI..just weight and they use the metlife height/weight chart for med frame build. I weighed 222..just 6.5 lbs under the requirement. I gained the weight (weighed 233 ) and got approved..by the way..I way 165 now...2.5 months after surgery.

I started this journey by filling out a form from a local surgeon and going to an informational meeting. I have Humana insurance but there is an exclusion written by my employer for weight loss surgery. Tricare is my secondary, and their requirements are being 100 lbs overweight with a comorbidity, or being 200% over ideal weight. I knew that I was borderline with the 100 lb overweight requirement, but I jumped into it anyway. Took the test, was poked and prodded in every orifice of my body. Went to meetings and researched and read everything I could get my hands on. Once my surgeons office submitted the paperwork, I felt pretty sure that I would get approved. I was just a few pounds under. Then I get the big fat DENIAL..and the letter stating that I meet the comorbidities, but am 6.5 UNDER their requirement! So, I have eaten everything I can get my hands on! I feel bloated, greasy and FAT...so I went in today and reweighed...and weighed 6.6 lbs OVER their number! YES!! Here I go again...the waiting...the checking the Tricare site every hour. My new diet and lifestyle starts today, with or without the band. I pray that I get approved and can get banded soon. Would love to get off of blood pressure meds and off of that darn CPAP machine! Will it be just another diet, or will I get on the bandwagon? :party:

yeah!! see..always try the appeal. Don't give up!

We are doing so good! I bought size 10 pants this weekend!! I actually look skinny!!!

52 lbs as of today!

I love facebook!! I recently got on there and my former classmates and I have been having a ball!

Well, I have been at a plateau for the past couple of weeks. Thanksgiving I was grazing all day and really didn't feel much restriction. I didn't eat any dessert except for one choc chip cookie that my youngest daughter made. I was for sure that I had pigged out and gained weight. I just haven't had the restriction and was eating more than I had since my surgery. Well, I think this helped up my metabolism! I have lost 4 more pounds this weekend!

I will say a little prayer for ya!

I am considering cosmetic surgery in the summer of 2009. Can anyone recommend a surgeon in Southern Indiana or Nashville, TN? I live in TN, but my family lives in Southern Indiana and I may go up there to have it done so that they can take care of me. I know each surgeon has a "specialty", so I am interested in getting my boobs done and a tummy tuck. Possibly getting my eyelids done also while I am there. Thanks for any suggestions you have!

I would like to lose 10 lbs by New Year's Eve! I am in for the challenge.